Closed-car signal



1 project his Patented Sept. 2i, i925.'

' unirse stares EUGENE T.

ivrecARfrY, or CHICAGO, irrrrrors.

CLOSED-CAR SIGNAL'.

Application filed December 10, 1924. i Serial No.`754,902.

During the winter months when the weather is inclement, closed cars of the sedan vtype and the like are extensively used7 and when the front door windowsvare closed it is impossible for the driver of the car to hand outwardly through the window orside of the car for the purpose of giving warning signals tov following cars.

To obviate' this difficulty an improved traffic signal has been invented for attachment upon the frame ofthe front left hand door of a closed'car, said traffic signal being so constructed that the same may be projected from a retracted position on the inner side of the door1 into a projected indicating position projected from the left handside of the vehicle.v o i It is an object of this invention toV provide an improved traiiic signal for use in vehicles of the closed type.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a traffic Signal adapted to be manually operated from the interior of a closed vehicle, said tratlic signal being adapted to be projected voutwardly through the door positioned at the left of the drivers seat. Itis another object of this invention to Y provide an improved closed` car traiiic signal adapted to be Vthe windows of a closed car to afford a signal to following cars, .said signalbeing so constructed that the. same` may be retracted so that the major portion of the device may be swung at an angle into an out ofthe way position on the inner side of the door.

It is still another object of this invention Vto provi-dea closed 'car traffic signalr adapted to be projected through a door of a closed vehicleby manually swinging the inner major portion ofthe device intov alignment with the outer minor portion of the device thereby moving a spring controlledv lever or latch bar into engagement with the minor portion of the device to hold the two portions of the device in alignment,I whereby the devicel may be yslidably projected. out through the vehicle door to afford a traffic signal.

e It is an important object of thisinvention to provide a closed car trafhc signal adapted to. be projected through a closed door of Aprojected through one of Vthat when the guide a vehicle to afford a traffic signal without requiring any portion of the closed vehicle to be opene Y l e l Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specication andthe accompanying drawings. i i j vThis invention (in a preferred form)l is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. i i

0n the drawings:

Figure l is inner side ofa closed vehicle doorequipped with a closed car traiiic signal embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is .a top plan view of the devi a fragmentary elevation of the taken on line lI-ll ofl Figure 1 showing the sigual device in projected signal posi'- tion in fulllines andinretracted position in dotted lines.

Figure 3 tail section 2 with parts shown in elevation. e Y

Figure 4L is an enlarged transverse detail section taken on line IV-V of Figure 8.V

is anV enlarged fragmentary detaken online III-III of Figure Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View l takenfon line V-V of Figure 2 when the signal device Visy inv retractedA position as 'shown in dotted lines.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral l. "indicates front left hand door or drivers door of a 'i closed motor vehicleas ordinarily provided with a glass windowpane 2, the upper mar'- gin of which is provided with a reces/sor notch 3 as illustratedin FigureV l. Securedv by means of a retaining bolt-1 or other vsuitable means to the upperrail 5 ofthe window frame portion of the door are the uptu'rned flanges' 6 which are integrally formed or rigidly secured forming a part guide sleeve 7. Engaged around the-outer periphery of the guide sleeve 7V is akrubber washer or guard 8 provided with a peripheral groove which is of the recess formed in thejjuppe'r margin of the glass window '2. It will'fthus be noted sleeve V7 is mounted *in on the ends of a top` plate j of a square cross sectioned for receiving.' the edge raised from its lowered dotted' linev position of Figure l into the closed position or full line position with the glass forming a tight fit with the rubber washer 8 on the guide sleeve 7. Mounted on the inner side of the top window rail 5 is a spring latch or clip 9 of `any Adesired construction for holding the inner section of thedevice in a latched retracted position when not in use as hereinafter more fully described; Y

The signal device proper comprises a short outer sleeve section or casing 10 preterably of rectangular cross section, one of the inner side edges of which is pivotally connected by means of a hinge 11V to one side edge of an inner long sleeve section or casing 12 also preferably of rectangular crosssection. Mounted in the outer end of the outer casing section 10 is a lamp socket 13 adaptedto removably receive an electric bulb 14. Attached to one terminal of the socket 13 is one end of an insulated wire 15 which is conducted Vthrough the outer casing section 10 and through the inner casing section 12. The wire 15 is conducted out .through `an aperture in the bottom of the inner casing section 12 and may be con'- nected with thelighting circuit of the machine. Connected tothe other terminal of y insulated wire the lamp socket 13 is an insulated wire 16 .which projects into a switch block 17 of insulating material'. Mounted within a recess in the switch blockfl? is a coiled spring 18 which serves to hold a switch terminal member 19 (Figure 3) in extended position r out of the inner end ofthe switch block.

When the casing sections 10 and 12 are :in alignment with one another as shown in Figure 3'the switch terminal 19 is projected into frictional engagement with a switch terminal 2O seated within the outer endof a secondswitch block 21 of insulating material. .The` switch block 21 is mounted in the Vouter end of thel inner casing section 12 and is in alignment with the switch block 17 when the ysignal device is in extended position for useas shown in Figure 3.r Y Connected to the Switch terminal member 20 is one end of an 22 which is, conducted through the inner casing section 12 and out of the aperture in the bottom of said casing section to be connected with the lighting circuit of the vehicle. It will of course,A be understood that the line wires 15 and 22 ot ythe device may be connected to .a separate :battery or to any source of electrical energy for,V the purpose of causing illumination ot the Ysignal lamp 14 when desired.

Formed on the bottom of the inner end of the inner casing section 12 is a projection or fingerY piece 23having pivotally mounting on. the upper rear 'end thereof a closure vplate 24 for closing the rear end of the inner casing section 12. The closure plate 24 is resiliently held in closed position by means cfa coiled spring 25 one end of which is secured to the inner face of the closure plate secured within the inner casing section. Integrally formed on the lower margin of the closure plate 24 is a lever or trigger 26 which normally is held out of engagement with the finger piece 23 by means of the coiled spring 25. Pivotally connected to the inner face of the closure plate 24 is one end of a link or connecting bar 27 which is disposed within the Ainner casing section 12. The other end of the link 27 is pivotally connected to one end of a latch plate or bar 28. rlhe latch bar 28 is adapted to hold the two casing sections .10 and 12 in aligned position when kthe signal device is projected. The outer yend of the latch bar 28 is rounded or beveled so that the same will ride over thecurved corner 29 formed Vat the open end of a slot 30'which is prothe slet 30 so that the two casing sections can not be pivoted with respect to one another when the device is inits projected position for use. The trigger 26 is provided for the purpose ont causing retraction of the link 27 and the latch bar 28 so that when the device is retracted the inner casing section 12 after it is pulled through the'guide sleeve may be swung at right angles with respect to the outer casing section 10 alongside of the inner face of the door into latching engagement with the retaining latch member 9 as illustrated in Figure 1.

r)The operation is as follows:

rEhe improved signal device Vof this invention is primarily adapted tor use in closed motor vehicles of the sedan and coupe types and affords a 'means whereby an illuminated signal may be readily given when the doors and windows of the vehicle are closed, to indicate that the driver intends to stop the car or make a turn. The signal may be given without opening the door or lowering` the window. Y

Normally the closed car signal device is mounted on the top bar of the frame of the lett door of a vehicle and `whenin Asuch retracted position the inner-casing section 12 isV swung parallel to the door and is held against movement by thespring latch -device 9. The dotted line position of the device illustrated in Figure 2 shows the outer casing section disposed within the sleeve 7 whileftlieV inner casing section 12 is'-` swung vinto a= position `along side of the inner tace so that the circuit tothe bulb 1i is broken 'from the door into alignment with and the light, of course, is extinguished.

To operate the signal to indicate a turn, the operator merely has to engage the finger piece or handle 23 to pull the inner casing section 12 out of latching engagement with the latching member 9 at the same time swinging said inner casing section. away the outer casing section 10. When this isdone the projecting end of the latch bai" 28 is moved into engagement with theY corner 29 (Fig. 5) thereby causing the latch bar to be depressedV so that it will pass through the slot 30 into the front casing section. Then theiend of the latch bar 28 is depressed the resilient supporting member 31 is also depressed an amount sufficient to permit the lowering of the end of the switch bar. As soon as the switch bar passes through the slot 30 the resilient support acts to move the end of the switch Vbar againstv the top of the inner casing section so that it cannot again swing out of said slot 30 but is so positioned that the Vtwo casing sections are held in alignment against pivotal movement with respect to one another. At the timethe inner casing sec-V vtion is swung into alignment with the outer casing section 10 the projecting contacting member 19 of the switch block 17 engages 10 is again l Y sleeve 7 at which time the operator merely between the lips of the contact member 2O within the block 21 thereby establishing an electrical circuit to the signal lamp 14a The lamp is thus illuminated vand the signal deviceis slidably projected out through the guide sleeve 7 into the full line position oi Figure 2 so that the illuminated lamp will aiiord a traffic signal to the drivers ot the vehicles following advising them that the driver of the particular car intends to make a left turn.

After the signal has been given the signal device may bey readilyl pulled inwardly by the operator until the outer casing section positioned within 4'the guide has to press thetrigger 26 in order to cause the closure plate 24C toV swing outwardly away from the inner end of the inner casing section 12 against the action ot thev coil spring 25. ment of the closure plate 24 the casing linlr pulled rearwardly thereby causing the latch bar 28 to be retracted out through the opened end of the front casing section 1() thereby permitting the inner casing sec- With a pivotal outward movetion 12 to be pivoted about the hinge 114 into Simultaneously 'with the swinging ofthe inner casing section into thev dotted line position of' Figure members 19 and 2O are automatically separated so that the signal light 14C is extinguished.

It will thus be seen that the improved signal device may be readily operated by the driver of a closed motor vehicle so that turning signals may be given even with the windows ot the vehicle in closed position. W'hile the guide'sleeve for the signal device is illustrated as being supported beneath the top rail of the door frame it will of course be understood that the door frame top rail may be drilled to hold the guide sleeve 7, thereby obviating the use of the notch-3 in the upper margin of the window glass 2. V-

l am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this inventiomand 1 therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention 1. A closed car signal comprising pivotally connected slidable casing sections, a signal device carried by said sections, and

may then be pushed into latching engagement with the retaining de- -vice 9 toV hold' the inner casing section -l'atclied against pivotal movement.

2 the switch contact latch means mounted within the section for v holding said sections in alignment with one another when it is desired to slidably project the signal into a position wherein the signal device may be readily seen.

2. The combination with a closed vehicle door and the window glass thereof, of` Va trail-ic signal for use on said door compris-vl ing aguide sleeve, means for attaching the same to the door frame, a washer carried by said guide sleeve and grooved to receiveV a notched-out portion of the door window, hingedly connected signal mechanisms slidably disposed in said guide sleeve and adapted to be projected outwardly through said guide sleeve to aiiord a tratlic signal when the door window isclosed, and means for retracting said signal mechanisms through the guide sleeve to permit one of said signal mechanisms to be swung in at an angle with respect to the other into an out y of the way position along side of the inner side of the door.

3. A'closed car signal comprising a tube adapted to be mounted to project through a door vof the car, a pair of pivotally connected casing sections normally rpositioned in the interior of the car, a signal carried' by said sections, and means for aligning said sections to permit the same to be projected from the interior of the car outwardly throughgsaid ltube to display the signal.

4. A closed carV signal comprising pivotally connected slidable sections, a Vsignal carried thereby, latch means for holding said sections in alignment to display the signal7 and a trigger mechanism carried by one of said sections to releasethe latch 10 means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.y Y

' EUGENE T MGCARTY. 

